Pavement.



. H. G. JBNNISON.

PAVEMENT. APPLICATION IILED JUNE 29, 1909.

962,15-, ylnmeelnteol June 21,1910.

TTURNY animan sfraas ramena ernten.

.HARRY e. JENNIson, or TOLEDO, omo.A

PAVEMENT.

esame. p

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 2i, 1910.

Application filed June 29, 1909. Serial No. 505,012.

i cially. of the character comprising a plurality of symmetrical blocks.

- This invention has utility wheii embodied in pavements exposed to heavy trafic, as for streets and bridge iioors, being adapted to take care of conditions of expansion and contraction due to moisture and temperature variations. Further it'is especially adapted for use on grades, in that convenient provision can be'made for foothold for teams. The particular form of the block not only affords the many diverse directions for joints to insure against block breakage and extended seams, but in being so 'ree of general 'line of direction for laying there is possible av much greater speed in putting down this pavement and no necessity for specially skilled labor in -the work.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a block embodying features of the invention herein; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a different form of block, also of a form to produce the automatic spacing; Fig. 3 is a similar view of a 'still diierent type of the block embodying the same spacing feature; Fig. 4 is a side elevation voi" the block shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 5 `is a plan .view

of a portion of a pavement comprisingblocks, as shown in Figs. l and 4, illustrating how the spacing scheme works out in the grouping` of the blocks.

The polyhed al block 1 is shown as of sixsided form, the sides of which are straight, while the polyhedral block 2 has six sides slightly concave. The polyhedral block 3 is of six-sided form, `but departs from a hexagon, as shown by the dotted lines, thus making the block irregular in shape. As shown bythe dot-ted lines in Fig. l, the block l departs from a true hexagon in having its diagonal 4, less than its two equal major diagonale 5, 6. Or in other words, `its diameters 7, 8, are equal and less than diameter 9. The corners of these blocks automatically and continuously so space the blocks that sides of the blocks in a general grouping are free, leaving spaces. These spaces, as shown in Fig. 5, are of varying form 10,l when resulting from blocks 1. As

the departure from regular hexagon is-` less, the automatic spacing of the blocks hasv smaller intervening areas. 'leinperature changes, as on extremely warm days, cause paving blocks to expand, and when the blocks are of the form as herein disclosed. the intervening areas or closed spaces, by allowing slight movement or rotation ot' the Ablocks. about the abutting corners as axes,

permit of this change in size being taken up among the blocks and within the width of the pavement without disastrous results of bulging er block destruction.

A great problem is the proper handling of Wooden blocks, and for paving, notwithstandinglantiseptio treatment and impreg-l nation to saturation with waterproofing agents, the action of weathering causes the tar or asphalt to seep out of the blocks and moisture gets in. This moisture produces a changein the size of the blocks, which applicant has discovered can be taken care of within the pavement itseltl without bulging,

buckling, shattering of blocks or displacing of curbing. As the tar or asphalt will not remain in the blocks, this problem of laying a wooden pavementso it will stay laid is of great importance. To avoid chipping and accordingly give greater wear, the blocks are placedv with the grain of thewood vertical, and as expansion of wood due to moisture is greatest laterally or radially there is a maximum of change to be taken care of in the body of the pavement its lt'. These irregular polygonal blocks 1n. be grouped regardless of any s cial arrangement, and

` throughout the en re pavement openings along full sides of blocks will occur. 'These openings may be filled with tar or other filler as desired. On expansionof the blocks, there is a `tendency to reduce the sizes ot these openings. According to the temperature and weather conditions to which the pavement is to be subjected, and the co- 4eiicient of expansion ot' the particular wood used, .the departure from true polygonal Jform for theblocks may be determined to instire ample spacing among the blocks within the normal width of the pavement to automatically take care of expansion at all times.

The block ll, Fig. 5 is shown with the grain extending upward, as is desirable for maximum wear. Due to this irregular form of polygonal block, while there are a plurality of seam or Joints, therevis nothing approximating a y sirab e only temporary,

general line of direction in the seams, thus providing not 'only good foothold for horses `due to ithese varied joints, but there is thefurtherfoothold provision due to the cracks or automatic spacing,v making practicable the adoption of wood block paving for streets of consider- 'able grade.

While the approximation of alhexagon for block form, permits of most economic cutting from small` timber, there is additional utility from a manufacturing standpoint in the fact that treatment `of the blocks need only be with antiseptic, doing away with the saturation so objectionable in seeping out over the blocks after bein laid. This means not only a more deavement in every sense, the saving in cost by not saturating with the tar or asphalt treatment to render waterproof. The waterproofing', at best, is and as this property leaves, the expansion causes continued block movement. Herein there is provided the antiseptic block, with automatic expansion provision, permitting the placing of a pavement which will stay'laid, and the laying of which may be conducted most cheaply in the vavoidance of any system of placing the blocks, but layin promiscuously. The blocks cannot be p aced wrongly, that is with the grain in the direction of the pavevmelit Surface, for the six-sided form. in suie. laying the block with fiat sideup. There are no joint lines or seams to follow, which permits of faster work in laying. It is to his noted the openings or intei'stices are suchl as the block will move to close on expanding, for the interstices are of full side lengths. Besides the irregular directions assumed by the joints, the slight variation from univ. formity in the dimensions across the Wear face of the block, is an addedfeature of strength and life, for `heavy loads have no more tendency to split the block in one direction of travel over another. Consequently at street crossings and bendsl in the road, there is no necesslty for altering the scheme for laying the `,blocks to conform'to lines of travel.

What is claimed and it isdesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a prising similar polyhedral b ocks providing corners, each block having a minimum diameter, of a first block thereof having a corthus but there is' blocks having some abutting corners avement comner, spaced from the additional blocks on such diameter and on each side of said corner an -abutting corner, two additional blocks having corners to abut' one of said abutting corners, and a third additionai block to abut the other of said abutting corners.

2. The combination in a pavement comprising similar polyhedral blocks providing corners, each block having a. pair of maximum-diameters of a first block thereof hav-` a corner spaced from the other blocks ing on each side of said corner an abutting and corner from whichextend said maximum diameters, and 'a pair of blocks at each of said abutting corners, each block having a corner to abut the abutting corners of the first block.

3. The combinationl in a pavement comprising similar polyhedral blocks providing corners, each block of uniform cross section throughout its height, of three similar poly- .hedral blocks in abutting relation at some of the corners, intermediate corners on thefl blocks betweenthe abutting corners thereof, such corners being adjacent to each other and'spacedapart whereby expansion can be takenup between the blocks.-

4. The combination ina pavement com prising similar polyhedralblocks having a pavement face provided with corners, of three, similar polyhedral blocks relation at some of the corners, intermediate corners of the blocks being adjacent to each other, one corner-ofi from the other twowhich are in abutting relation.

5. The combination in a pavement of -three similar blocks having corners, a corner of one blockfabutting" Witha corner of, adjacent vintermediand an ladjacent block,

blocks spaced-.from each ate,.corners of the other. n

6. In a pavement' the combination of three or more similarv irregular polyhedral of the corners thereof in abutting a block being spaced.

in abutting relation with intermediate closed spaces between said corners whereby expansion is permitted between the., blocks allowing the latter to rotate slightly from the as aXes. A In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY Gr. JENNISON.

v Witnesses: v

v J. H. BELLows, Gro. E. KIRK. 

